It’s a gift for us in Washington to be surrounded by wildlife. You can catch sight of whales on a ferry commute, coyotes from the back deck, or ospreys diving for fish at the local park. But not all human-animal interactions are without a bit of risk.

If you happen to run into a backwoods bear or a concealed cougar, someone like Kevin O’Connor may be sent in for help. O’Connor is a wildlife conflict specialist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and he joined Soundside to break down what you should know when it comes to our common wildlife encounters.